Are you thinking of listing your home for sale? Is the thought of getting your home ready to sell overwhelming? Would it help to have a list of what things increase the value of a home? There are easy ways to increase your home’s value. Some of them are no-brainers, but some are not.
Let us discuss some of the things a homeowner can do to prepare for their home’s sale.
Thoroughly Clean the Home
It may sound silly to even mention such an obvious thing. But you would be surprised how many people do not find this important. Many clean-freaks will not even consider a home that is not white-glove clean. And it is evident the first time you step through the door. If necessary, your realtor would no doubt make this suggestion.
If a home has not been deep cleaned, you will be able to smell it. Cooking odors, animal odors, or a musky offensive scent will emanate from the home and immediately turn off a potential buyer. The smell of garbage, dirty laundry, or dirty dishes in the sink will also put off a potential buyer. Make sure there is no food in the refrigerator that is past its time. A buyer will look inside all of the kitchen appliances. It will be apparent if they have not been cared for.
An offensive odor, even a slight one, can break a deal. Someone that has lived with it for a time may not even be aware there is an odor. Invite an unbiased third party into your home to detect any lingering odors from the kitchen or any pet odors. If the smells are pervasive, deep cleaning is needed. Candles, plug-in room deodorizers, or other odor masking techniques with a strong scent could backfire if a buyer does not like the smell of lilacs or vanilla. Also, they do not last very long. A good deep-cleaning is more effective for the elimination of unwanted odors.
Declutter the Home
When it comes to getting your home ready to sell, less is definitely more. Make sure that all the visible areas, counters, windowsills, tables, and other areas are clutter-free. Then do the same with cupboards, drawers, and closets. Buyers will want to inspect every nook and cranny in the home.
Excessive clutter, old newspapers, clothes, or toys, laying around in general disarray, will cause buyers to look elsewhere. When it is time to declutter, you may want to consider a dumpster rental.
If the home is packed to overflowing with things, buyers may feel that they will not have ample space for their personal property. A homeowner doesn’t want to pay a mortgage and also rent a storage space.
Not only will clearing your home of clutter be more appealing to buyers, but it will also help once you have accepted an offer and are getting ready to move.
That is an easy way to remove unwanted or worn-out items from your home. It’s incredible what can be acquired over time. Consider having a garage sale to dispose of unused items and make money at the same time. If you wonder what things increase the value of a home, cleaning and decluttering do not cost a homeowner a cent and worth the effort.
While you are decluttering your space, also depersonalize it. Remove your personal items and family photos, as well as furniture or bold artwork that may make the home less appealing to some potential buyers. You want to create a blank canvas so buyers can envision themselves living there and making it home.
But many other things can be done to your property if you are wondering what things increase the value of a home.
Exterior Appearance
Curb appeal is crucial in attracting potential buyers. The exterior of your home is what makes the first impression. You want to ensure that the siding of your home does not need attention. Could your lap siding use a coat of paint? How about your front door? Is it welcoming, or does it put people off? Perhaps a coat of paint or stain will freshen it up if you cannot purchase a new one.
Curb appeal is one of the things that increase the value of a home. Buyers do tend to judge by first impressions. You always want to ensure that a potential buyer’s first impression is a good one. You want your property to be so attractive on the exterior that they cannot wait to see the interior. You want it to inspire them to schedule a tour or stop by an open house. Some relatively easy fixes, such as repainting the front door or planting some colorful flowers near the entry, will entice a buyer to want to see more.
Make sure your roofing is in good condition with no shingles missing, as it will be a selling point and an easy way to increase the value of a home. If your roof is old and you cannot replace it, your listing agent will suggest that it be reflected in the home’s selling price.
Another significant thing that will detract from the appearance of your home is a problem with stinging insects. If you have a problem with bees, wasps, hornets, or any other annoying or potentially harmful insect, contact a bee control services company to eliminate the problem.
If you are fortunate enough to have a wooded lot, make sure you don’t have any trees that require trimming. Low hanging branches, dead branches, or dead trees detract from the landscape and need the attention of a tree trimming service. A beautiful landscape adds to the attraction of a property.
Has your lawn been freshly mowed? Is the grass green and weed-free? If the yard has bare yellow spots because of a pet or uneven ground that is difficult to walk on, attend to these issues. Spread grass seed, fertilizer, or fill holes to ensure the look of the lawn is one that shows pride of ownership.
Bats are fascinating creatures. They are the only mammal able to sustain flight with their forelimbs to fly. They are more maneuverable than birds because their long spread-out wings are covered with a thin membrane or patagium. Their posture of roosting is when they hang upside down. Insectivorous bats are beneficial to farmers, as they control agricultural pests that reduce the need to use pesticides. The most advantageous trait of a bat is that one bat can eat up to a thousand mosquitoes in one hour. This is very beneficial if you have a small pond or live near water.
But having bats in your attic is not conducive to selling your home. Female bats seek dark areas that resemble caves for raising their pups when natural habitats become overpopulated. An attic makes an excellent alternative habitat. Their babies are born anywhere from the end of April to the beginning of June. Bat removal cannot take place during the summer months as the pups cannot yet fly.
While this infestation may not be evident to a potential buyer, it will be obvious to the home inspector hired to go through the home looking for issues that need resolving. If your home is in a more rural area, ensure that your attic is free of living things.
Does the Interior Need Attention?
What is the condition of the drywall inside your home? One of the most frequent drywall repairs is required if a door is opened too forcefully, and the doorknob goes through it. If a homeowner cannot repair it themselves, they should contract a drywall services company to handle the repair. But anyone with any DIY skills should be able to fix this without incurring much cost.
What impression will your kitchen or bathroom cabinets make to potential buyers or real estate agents previewing your home? If your home still has the original cabinets that were put in the home 40 years ago, perhaps a coat of paint or stain might be indicated. Things that really increase the value of a home are remodeling projects. Replacing kitchen or bathroom cabinetry is an expensive update, so giving the cabinets a good cleaning should be done if painting or staining is not an option.
Having windows that operate correctly is a must. If you have wood windows, they can be repaired even if they look damaged. Rotting areas of the window can be fixed with liquid epoxy that penetrates the wood. If cracked, the windowsill and the trim can be filled with epoxy putty, then sanded and painted or stained. Wood windows, if adequately painted and maintained, can last a hundred years or more.
Consider repainting the interior with neutral colors. You may love an accent wall in red, but if it is a buyer’s least favorite color, that will turn them away. Neutral colors are safe because it is rare that someone will dislike them. A light color will allow a buyer to envision what the room would look like painted in a color they would choose themselves. As the seller, it is your job to help a potential buyer imagine themselves living in your home. If they do not feel comfortable, they will look elsewhere.
Even if you are not doing a complete repainting of your home’s interior, make sure you scrub your baseboards, doors, and walls and do any touching up that is necessary. You want your home to shine and look well cared for.
Selling almost any home can be tricky, but trying to sell a home with lots of problems or small repair needs, turns tricky into difficult. A buyer wants to fall in love with a house when going on a home tour or going into an open house. They don’t want to see a long list of repairs ahead of them. Fix your home up prior to putting it on the market. A fixed up and move-in ready home will generate more interest and perhaps even see multiple offers. This type of attention is an easy way to increase the value of a home.
This may seem like a small issue, but a missing lightbulb or loose handle can have a negative effect on a potential buyer. They may feel that if something so easy has been neglected, what about the larger things. Don’t give anyone the chance to walk away from your home because of your neglect of small things.
Of the many things that can increase the value of a home, staging is one of them. Add plants to your home. Plants create a bright, welcoming environment. Also, consider a bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter or a vase of flowers on the dining room table. Natural decor will impress buyers and bring life and extra color into your room.
Professional photos will be taken when your home is listed. It will look its best at that time, so a buyer will expect to see it looking like the photos at the time of a tour.
If your home and furnishings are outdated and scream 1990, consider a correctly chosen mirror or some new furnishings. Having your home professionally staged is an easy way to increase the value of a home.
Stagers know the real estate market and what it takes to sell a home. They may recommend you purchase or rent items, reorganize your knickknacks and bookshelves in a better way. Their evaluation of your home and belongings can determine what factors could raise the bar and encourage interest from potential buyers.
As you never know when there will be a last-minute tour scheduled or the all-important second tour, take special care of the bathroom and kitchen, ensuring that the tile, counters, showers, and floors shine.
If you neglect your home and someone does decide to make an offer to purchase, their offering price will not be anywhere near the listing price.
Any of the tips discussed are easy ways to increase the value and interest in your home to get you the price you desire and deserve.